Faults:

Dashboard warped - Dealer recall. The replacement is fine.

Engine cuts out approx every 500 miles due to sticking fuel cut off solenoid - sorted by applying 12 volts on solenoid terminal - I just live with it.

Bumper rust, Blistering paintwork below rear door catch strikers.

Leaky 'alpine' Windows (wet rear loudspeakers)

General Comments:

Towing ability is excellent. It pulled a 2-ton boat on 2000-mile trip UK to Spain and back twice without problems. Performance launching & retrieving boats on sand, pebbles and slippery concrete is unbeaten by anything other than a tractor.

I have 100% confidence in its off road performance. It feels secure and in control.

The boats and caravans have long since gone, but I cannot face selling the disco. Normal road driving is very comfortable for driver and passengers. Front and side visibility is excellent, but the rear view is slightly obscured by the spare wheel.

Perfect for touring holidays and days out with family and friends, No problems with day-to-day use. On average, I get around 28-30 miles per gallon and servicing costs are reasonable from our local garage. No major shocks to the wallet at MOT time.

I have done 70,000 + miles and I am due for my second set of tyres, have replaced the brake pads three times and the front discs once, and have replaced the battery twice. Other than normal servicing replacements that is all. I have not experienced the reliability problems other seem to have. Despite problems with fuel solenoid valve I have never needed roadside assistance.

Faults:

Within the first week of buying the car the immobiliser caused the car to lose all electrical power during brief stops after a 2 to 3 hour continuous drive. Took a while for the dealer to locate, but was traced to the 'spider' loom.

Within the first week the wiper motor failed and would only operate when manually selected (1 wipe only). This was fixed within a hour once given to the dealer.

Corrosion inside the rear door, where the frame meets the rear wing. This is due to the poor application of seam sealant. Can be rectified satisfactorily with a little patience.

General Comments:

Considering the all up weight of the vehicle, the 2.5 turbo diesel pull well, delivering good fuel economy if driven lightly (30mpg+).

Sometimes I wish that it was quieter within the cabin whilst on the highway, but that's a minor point.

Internally it is very roomy and it's easy to keep clean.

For the home mechanic the vehicle is easy to maintain, with most components very easy to access, and the cost of parts is generally cheap.

Great tow vehicle, I regularly pull 3000kg, and fuel consumption drops to the mid to low 20's which is quite acceptable.